Conte set to return to Mattarella with minister list

Di Maio tipped as FM, Franceschini defence,cabinet sec undecided

(ANSAmed) - ROME, SEPTEMBER 4 - Premier-designate Giuseppe
Conte is expected to return to President Sergio Mattarella
Wednesday and formally 'drop his reservations' about forming a
government between the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S)
and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD).

Conte, who also headed the last M5S-League government on
which anti-migrant Euroskeptic League leader Matteo Salvini
pulled the plug on August 8, is expected to hand Mattarella the
list of his ministers which the president must vet.

Salvini called time on the alliance with the M5S hoping to
capitalise on surging poll numbers.

He never thought that sworn enemies the M5S and the PD would
get together to prevent a snap election.

The M5S-PD alliance led by Conte was approved Tuesday night
by almost 80% of grassroots M5S members on their online voting
platform Rousseau.

M5S leader Luigi Di Maio called the vote a "plebiscite" for
change based on the 20 points the M5S has managed to insert into
Conte's 26-point programme.

"From blocking the VAT hike to the minimum wage, from the cut
in the tax wedge to aid to families and the disabled, from the
stop to incinerators to the (stop to) (offshore) drilling, from
justice reform to the law on conflict of interest, and (taking"
motorway concessions (away from the Autostrade company), we have
included our key points" he said.

A draft of the programme on the M5S blog also said that on
migrants and security, where the PD wants a clean break with the
closed ports policy of outgoing interior minister and
Salvini, "the security laws will have to be updated according to
the recent observations of President Mattarella", who said that
some norms were against international treaties on saving lives
at sea.

Salvini pulled the plug on the 14-month M5S-League government
citing M5S inaction but soon tried to resurrect it after seeing
the possible tie-up up between traditional foes the M5S and the
PD.

He again called for early elections Tuesday night saying that
the votes of 60,000 M5S members were nothing compared to the
votes of 60 million Italians, most of whom do not endorse the
new government, he said.

In the latest speculation on the government team, Di Maio is
said to be heading for the foreign ministry while PD bigwig and
former centre-left leader Dario Franceschini is said to be
getting the defence minister's job.
The key job of cabinet secretary is still up for grabs,
according to reports.
Salvini said "I'm proud to have lost seven ministries now, to
prepare for a serious and strong government that will last 10
years later".(ANSAmed).